95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish
Tennessee Fishing SpotsEvery County, Every Town
Spot SearchGear SearchLakes & RiversFishAll Fishing SpotsCountiesTownsGuides & ChartersTournamentsState RecordsLicence & LimitsEmail Updates

River · Clay

Fishing Obey River/Cumberland River, Tennessee

1 public access point across 1 county, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Obey River/Cumberland River, county by county

All 1 public access point TWRA records on Obey River/Cumberland River. Each card opens its own page with written directions, coordinates and a link straight to Google Maps.

Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.

Obey River/Cumberland River access in Clay County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDonaldson Park Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.55565, -85.49523

What to bring

Tackle for Obey River/Cumberland River

Three picks from the largemouth bass checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RodUgly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rodStiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelAbu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reelAn inexpensive baitcaster that casts cleanly once the brakes are set.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Soft plasticZoom Trick WormThe Tennessee standard on a Texas rig or weightless along docks and grass edges.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Full largemouth bass checklist (11 items)All gear checklists

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

Smallmouth Bass checklistCrappie checklistStriper and Hybrid checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

The water

Obey River/Cumberland River boat ramps and fishing access

Obey River/Cumberland River has 1 public access point: 1 boat ramp and 1 kayak launch, in Clay County.

1public access point
1boat ramp
1kayak and canoe launches
1county

1 public access point on Obey River/Cumberland River, every one with directions.

What it looks like

Obey River/Cumberland River in photographs

What Obey River/Cumberland River looks like through the year. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Obey River, TennesseeObey River/Cumberland RiverOpen the Obey River/Cumberland River page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domainDale Hollow Lake, TennesseeDale Hollow LakeOpen the Dale Hollow Lake page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domainObey River, TennesseeObey River/Cumberland RiverOpen the Obey River/Cumberland River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Dale Hollow Lake, TennesseeDale Hollow LakeOpen the Dale Hollow Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Obey River, TennesseeObey River/Cumberland RiverOpen the Obey River/Cumberland River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Dale Hollow Lake, TennesseeDale Hollow LakeOpen the Dale Hollow Lake page →Dalehollow / CC BY-SA 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Obey River/Cumberland River

What Obey River/Cumberland River actually holds, from the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes. A licence is required for all of it.

largemouth basssmallmouth basscrappiestriped basswalleyesaugercatfishrainbow trout
Guides who fish Obey River/Cumberland River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Obey River/Cumberland River

TWRA sets 1 rule just for Obey River/Cumberland River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Walleye516 in minimum, only one over 20 inEast Fork Obey (Dale Hollow headwaters), Compton boat ramp to Hwy 52 bridge, Jan 1–Apr 15: one single-point hook or lure, max 3 rods. The tailwater below Dale Hollow Dam follows statewide rules
Largemouth bass5 black bass combinedNo minimumStatewide
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combinedNo minimumStatewide
Crappie1510 in minimumStatewide
Striped bass2 striped and hybrid combined15 in minimumStatewide
Sauger1015 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide
Rainbow trout7 trout combinedNo minimumStatewide

From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.

Statewide limits and licenses

By county

Counties on Obey River/Cumberland River

Obey River/Cumberland River touches 1 Tennessee county. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

CelinaClay County1 access point on Obey River/Cumberland River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Obey River/Cumberland River

These pages measure from the middle of town rather than the county line, which is usually the number that matters when you are deciding where to drive.

Clay CountyFishing near CelinaPublic water within about 30 miles of Celina, closest first.See the spots →

A Tennessee licence covers the whole state, not just one lake.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Obey River/Cumberland River

How many public boat ramps are there on Obey River/Cumberland River?

TWRA lists 1 public boat launch on Obey River/Cumberland River, with 1 ramp lanes between them, across 1 Tennessee county. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Obey River/Cumberland River?

Obey River/Cumberland River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, walleye, sauger, catfish and rainbow trout. Which of those is actually worth chasing depends on the season, and TWRA sets size and creel limits that change, so check before you keep anything.

Which counties does Obey River/Cumberland River run through?

Clay county. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish Obey River/Cumberland River from the bank?

Yes, though no public fishing pier is recorded on Obey River/Cumberland River. Bank fishing here means the shoreline and parking areas at the public ramps, plus road and bridge crossings where there is public right of way.

Do you need a licence to fish Obey River/Cumberland River?

Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence, and a trout supplemental on top if you plan to keep trout. Non-residents can buy a three-day or ten-day licence rather than a full year.

Is Obey River/Cumberland River free to fish?

The water is. Some of the ramps are not, Corps of Engineers sites, state park ramps and marinas often charge to launch or park. Each listing below shows the owner, which is the best guide to whether you will be asked for money.

Keep going

More Obey River/Cumberland River water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits